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Texts -- 2 Kings 9:1-29 (NET)

Context
Jehu Becomes King
9:1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild and told him, “Tuck your robes into your belt , take this container of olive oil in your hand , and go to Ramoth Gilead . 9:2 When you arrive there , look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room . 9:3 Take the container of olive oil , pour it over his head , and say , ‘This is what the Lord says , “I have designated you as king over Israel .”’ Then open the door and run away quickly !” 9:4 So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead . 9:5 When he arrived , the officers of the army were sitting there. So he said , “I have a message for you, O officer .” Jehu asked , “For which one of us ?” He replied , “For you, O officer .” 9:6 So Jehu got up and went inside . Then the prophet poured the olive oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says , ‘I have designated you as king over the Lord’s people Israel . 9:7 You will destroy the family of your master Ahab . I will get revenge against Jezebel for the shed blood of my servants the prophets and for the shed blood of all the Lord’s servants . 9:8 Ahab’s entire family will die . I will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel , including even the weak and incapacitated . 9:9 I will make Ahab’s dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah . 9:10 Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel ; she will not be buried .’” Then he opened the door and ran away . 9:11 When Jehu rejoined his master’s servants , they asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman visit you?” He replied , “Ah, it’s not important. You know what kind of man he is and the kinds of things he says .” 9:12 But they said , “You’re lying ! Tell us what he said .” So he told them what he had said . He also related how he had said , “This is what the Lord says , ‘I have designated you as king over Israel .’” 9:13 Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps . The trumpet was blown and they shouted , “Jehu is king !”
Jehu the Assassin
9:14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram . Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army, guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria . 9:15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria . Jehu told his supporters, “If you really want me to be king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel .” 9:16 Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel , for Joram was recuperating there . (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram .) 9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching . He said , “I see troops !” Jehoram ordered , “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask , ‘Is everything all right?’” 9:18 So the horseman went to meet him and said , “This is what the king says , ‘Is everything all right ?’” Jehu replied , “None of your business ! Follow me.” The watchman reported , “The messenger reached them , but hasn’t started back .” 9:19 So he sent a second horseman out to them and he said , “This is what the king says , ‘Is everything all right ?’” Jehu replied , “None of your business ! Follow me.” 9:20 The watchman reported , “He reached them, but hasn’t started back . The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi ; he drives recklessly .” 9:21 Jehoram ordered , “Hitch up my chariot .” When his chariot had been hitched up , King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots to meet Jehu . They met up with him in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel . 9:22 When Jehoram saw Jehu , he asked , “Is everything all right , Jehu ?” He replied , “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices ?” 9:23 Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off . He said to Ahaziah , “It’s a trap , Ahaziah !” 9:24 Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram’s shoulders . The arrow went through his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot . 9:25 Jehu ordered his officer Bidkar , “Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel . Remember , you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab , when the Lord pronounced this judgment on him, 9:26 _’"Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday ,” says the Lord , “and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land,” says the Lord .’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the Lord said .” 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan . Jehu chased him and ordered , “Shoot him too .” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam . He fled to Megiddo and died there . 9:28 His servants took his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the city of David . 9:29 Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Zeal

    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • Watches

    [ebd] the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen w...

  • Usurpation

    [nave] USURPATION. Of Political Functions By Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:1-12. By Adonijah, 1 Kin. 1:5-9. By Baasha, 1 Kin. 15:27, 28. By Zimri, 1 Kin. 16:9, 10. By Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:11-37. By Athaliah, 2 Kin. 11:1-16. By Shallum, 2 Ki...

  • Prophet

    [ebd] (Heb. nabi, from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence "to utter", comp. Ps. 45:1). This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of Samuel another word, ro'eh, "s...

  • PALESTINE, 2

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...

  • Joram

    [isbe] JORAM - jo'-ram (yoram, "Yahweh is exalted"; compare JEHORAM): (1) Son of Toi (or Tou, according to Septuagint, Codex Vaticanus, and 1 Ch 18:9,10), sent by his father to greet David (2 Sam 8:10) = "Hadoram" (1 Ch 18:9,10) a ...
    [smith] (whom Jehovah has exalted). Son of Ahab king of Israel. (2 Kings 8:16,25,28,29; 9:14,17,21-23,29) [JEHORAM, 1] Son of Jehosphaphat; king of Judah. (2 Kings 8:21,23,24; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Chronicles 22:5,7; Matt...
    [nave] JORAM 1. A son of Toi, 2 Sam. 8:9, 10. Called Hadoram, 1 Chr. 18:10. 2. Called also Jehoram. King of Israel, 2 Kin. 1:17; 3:1. King of Syria sends Naaman to, that he may be healed of his leprosy, 2 Kin. 5:1-27. Has war w...

  • Jezreel, Portion of

    [ebd] the field adjoining the city (2 Kings 9:10, 21, 36, 37). Here Naboth was stoned to death (1 Kings 21:13).

  • Jezreel, Blood of

    [ebd] the murder perpetrated here by Ahab and Jehu (Hos. 1:4; comp. 1 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 9:6-10).

  • Jezreel

    [ebd] God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against...
    [isbe] JEZREEL - jez'-re-el, jez'-rel (yizre`e'l, "God soweth"): (1) A city on the border of the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18). 1. Territory: It is named with Chesulloth and Shunem (modern Iksal and Solam). It remained loyal t...
    [smith] A city situated in the plain of the same name between Gilboa and Little Hermon, now generally called Esdraelon. [ESDRAELON] It appears in (Joshua 19:18) but its historical importance dates from the reign of Ahab, B.C. 918-89...
    [nave] JEZREEL 1. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:56; 1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3; 29:1, 11. 2. A city of Issachar, Josh. 19:18; 2 Sam. 2:9. Ahab's residence in, 1 Kin. 18:45, 46; 21:1. Naboth's vineyard in, 1 Kin. 21:1. Joram's res...

  • Jehu

    [ebd] Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38). (2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3). (3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2...
    [isbe] JEHU - je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Ki 19:16,17; 2 Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of ...
    [smith] (the living). The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Eli...
    [nave] JEHU 1. The prophet who aounced the wrath of Jehovah against Baasha, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:1, 7, 12; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34. 2. Son of Nimshi, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 19:16; 2 Kin. 9:1-14. Religious zeal of, in slaying idol...

  • JEHORAM; JORAM

    [isbe] JEHORAM; JORAM - je-ho'-ram, written also in the abbreviated form, (yehoram, yoram, "Yahweh is high"; the Revised Version (British and American) retains "Joram" for Hebrew yehoram in 2 Ki 9:15-24): (1) Ninth king of Israel (...

  • JEHORAM

    [ebd] Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer (2 Sam. 8:10). (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr. 26:25). (3.) A priest sen...
    [smith] (whom Jehovah has exalted). Son of Ahab king of Israel, who succeeded his brother Ahaziah B.C. 896, and died B.C. 884. The alliance between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, commenced by his father and Jehoshaphat, was very ...

  • Esdraelon

    [ebd] the Greek form of the Hebrew "Jezreel," the name of the great plain (called by the natives Merj Ibn Amer; i.e., "the meadow of the son of Amer") which stretches across Central Palestine from the Jordan to the Mediterraanean,...

  • Enthusiasm

    [nave] ENTHUSIASM. Instances of Gideon, Judg. 6; 7; Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:1-14; 10:1-28. See: Zeal.

  • Decision

    [nave] DECISION. Deut. 30:19; Josh. 23:8. Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 12:20; 1 Kin. 18:21; Psa. 37:34; Psa. 69:13; Prov. 4:25-27; Isa. 50:7; Matt. 24:13 Mark 13:13; Matt. 10:22. Matt. 25:23; Luke 7:23 Matt. 11:6. John 8:31; John 15:4, 5, ...

  • Conspiracy

    [nave] CONSPIRACY. Law Against Ex. 23:1, 2 Instances of Joseph's brethren, against Joseph, Gen. 37:18-20. Miriam and Aaron, against Moses, Num. 12; 14:4; 16:1-35. Abimelech, against Gideon's sons, Judg. 9:1-6. Gaal, against ...

  • Church and State

    [nave] CHURCH AND STATE (Identical in the theocratic period. No particular Scripture can be cited, but the student is directed to the legislative, judicial, and administrative functions of Moses, Joshua, the Judges, and Samuel as s...

  • Chamber

    [ebd] "on the wall," which the Shunammite prepared for the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:10), was an upper chamber over the porch through the hall toward the street. This was the "guest chamber" where entertainments were prepared (Mar...

  • CHARIOT

    [ebd] a vehicle generally used for warlike purposes. Sometimes, though but rarely, it is spoken of as used for peaceful purposes. The first mention of the chariot is when Joseph, as a mark of distinction, was placed in Pharaoh's s...
    [isbe] CHARIOT - char'-i-ot (merkabh, merkabhah, "riding-chariot," rekhebh, "war-chariot"; harma): 1. Chariots of Egypt 2. Chariots of the Canaanites 3. Chariots of Solomon and Later Kings 4. Chariots of the Assyrians 5. Chariots o...
    [smith] a vehicle used either for warlike or peaceful purposes, but most commonly the former. The Jewish chariots were patterned after the Egyptian, and consisted of a single pair of wheels on an axle, upon which was a car with high ...

  • Ahaziah

    [ebd] held by Jehovah. (1.) The son and successor of Ahab. He followed the counsels of his mother Jezebel, and imitated in wickedness the ways of his father. In his reign the Moabites revolted from under his authority (2 Kings 3:5...
    [isbe] AHAZIAH - a-ha-zi'-a ('achazyah and 'achazyahu, "Yah holds, or sustains"): I. Ahaziah. Son of Ahab and Jezebel, eighth king of Israel (1 Ki 22:51 through 2 Ki 1:18). 1. His Reign: Ahaziah became king over Israel in the seven...
    [nave] AHAZIAH 1. King of Judah. Called Azariah and Jehoahaz, 2 Chr. 21:17; 25:23. History of, 2 Kin. 8:25-29; 9:16-29. Gifts of, to the temple, 2 Kin. 12:18. Brethren of, slain, 2 Kin. 10:13, 14. Succeeded by Athaliah, 2 Chr. ...

Arts

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • "As the laws increase and the constraints grow, the people seem less willing or less capable of following them. At this point in the narrative we see that the whole order of the priesthood is thrown open to direct confrontati...
  • I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:121. David's declining health 1:1-42. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne 1:5-533. David's charge to Solomon 2:1-94. David's death 2:10-12B. ...
  • The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.123During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relati...
  • Elijah's zeal for God's covenant, altars, and prophets was admirable, but he became too discouraged because he underestimated the extent of commitment to Yahweh that existed in Israel.208He was not alone in his stand for Yahw...
  • Even though Jezebel was behind the murder of Naboth, God held her husband Ahab responsible (v. 19). Jezebel's evil influence over her husband stands out in this story.221Ahab was willing to murder a godly Israelite to obtain ...
  • Again God told Elijah to "go"(v. 18; cf. 17:3, 9; 18:1; 19:15). As a faithful servant, he went to confront the king again.226Ahab was not in Samaria then (v. 18) but in Jezreel (v. 19). The mention of Samaria was evidently an...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Kings)3. Ahaziah's evil reign in Israel -1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 1:184. Jehoram's evil reign in Israel 2:1-8:155. Jehoram's evil reign in Judah 8:16-246. Ahaziah's evil reign in Judah 8:25-9:29C. The ...
  • Second Kings begins with Ahaziah's reign that fell during the 33-year period of Israel and Judah's alliance (874-841 B.C.; -1 Kings 16:29-2 Kings 9:29). This period in turn fits within the larger context of the divided kingdo...
  • Hazael was the governor of Damascus.50The Gentile King of Aram had more interest in inquiring of Yahweh than Jehoram's predecessor did (v. 8; cf. 1:2). It was customary in the Near East to make a great show of giving gifts. I...
  • God had told Elijah that he would anoint Jehu (1 Kings 19:16).55He did this through his successor Elisha who accomplished it by using one of his protégés (v. 1). Jehu would wipe out Omri's dynasty in Israel (v. 7-10...
  • Israel had evidently retaken Ramoth-gilead after Ben-Hadad I had defeated Ahab there 12 years earlier. Israel was now defending it against the attacking Arameans (v. 14). The horsemen and Joram who asked Jehu, "Is it peace?"w...
  • Jehu executed Ahaziah because he was a member of Ahab's family. He died an ignominious death because of his wickedness as did the kings of Israel in Omri's dynasty. Nevertheless Ahaziah received an honorable burial (v. 28).Th...
  • Since the writer did not record Jehu's coronation, we should probably regard his reign as beginning when Joram died (9:24). Jehu began Israel's fifth and longest royal dynasty. He and his descendants reigned 88 years (841-753...
  • Jezebel evidently painted her eyes and adorned her head (v. 30) to receive Jehu. Unwittingly, or perhaps deliberately,59she prepared herself for her own death. At least one interpreter believed she was trying to seduce Jehu.6...
  • Athaliah was the mother of the Judean king Ahaziah whom Jehu assassinated (9:27-29). She was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the sister of the Israelite kings Ahaziah and Joram who had succeeded Ahab. She was the wife of J...
  • This vision may have come to Jeremiah immediately after the preceding one or at some other time.1:13 The Lord next directed Jeremiah to view a boiling pot (cauldron used for cooking or washing, Heb. sir) that was tipped so th...
  • 3:16 At the end of these seven days the Lord's word came to Ezekiel. "The word of the Lord came to me"is a key phrase in Ezekiel occurring in 41 verses. It appears in Jeremiah nine times and in Zechariah twice."For no other p...
  • The Lord used Hosea's family members as signs to communicate His message of coming judgment on Israel.1:2 At the beginning of Hosea's ministry, Yahweh commanded him to take a wife of harlotry and to have children of harlotry....
  • 9:7 Israel was to know that the days of her punishment and retribution were imminent because the nation's iniquity was fat and its hostility to the Lord was great. Another reason for her judgment was that the Israelites had r...
  • 7:10 Amaziah, who was one of the apostate priests who served at the Bethel sanctuary (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33), felt that Amos was being unpatriotic in what he was prophesying. So Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II charg...
  • 7:14 Amos replied that he was not a prophet by his own choosing; he did not decide to pursue prophesying as a career. Neither had he become a prophet because his father had been one. In Amos' culture it was common and expecte...
  • 5:10-11 In that future eschatological day the Lord also promised to remove the vain sources of security that had always tempted the Israelites represented by horses, chariots, cities, and fortifications (cf. Deut. 17:16).5:12...
  • 21:8 The people where acknowledging Jesus as a King by spreading their garments on the road before Him (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). Likewise throwing small branches before Him symbolized the same thing (cf. 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7...
  • This is only the second incident that all four evangelists recorded, the other being the feeding of the 5,000 (cf. 6:30-44). This fact reflects its importance. Mark's account of this event gives much detail indicating its eye...
  • Luke did not record Jesus' actual entrance into the city of Jerusalem. He stressed Jesus' approach to Jerusalem and His lamentation over it (vv. 41-44). This presentation has the effect of eliminating the triumphant spirit of...
  • Evidently a woman claiming to be a prophetess (cf. Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; 1 Cor. 11:5) had been influencing some in this church to join the local trade guilds without which a tradesman could not work in Thyatira. This meant pa...
  • 18:21 The angelic act of throwing the millstone into the sea is symbolic of Babylon's fate (cf. Jer. 51:63-64). As it is impossible for that huge stone to rise to the surface, so the economic system that has driven this world...
  • This pericope has strong ties to what precedes (16:17-18:24). It is the concluding revelation concerning the fall of Babylon, the latter-day Egypt and Tyre, and Antichrist, the ultimate Pharaoh of the Exodus and King of Tyre....
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